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"Me too. As it stands now, I have to come up with an excuse to give my parents at dinner tonight."
"Tell them I'm visiting my family."
He gives a sharp nod.
"Right."
On shaky legs, I slip into the car and turn on the ignition. Eli is still on the porch, staring at my car with a sad face.
"Please take care of him. Maybe, one day, you'll explain to him what really happened."
Declan shoves his hand in his pocket and moves backward, then closes the door without saying a word or doing the one thing I'd give my last breath to have him do; kiss me.
My fingers are trembling badly, but I need to go before I take back everything I've said and done. As I pull out of the driveway, the tears pouring from my eyes become heavy-- heart-wrenching sobs. I shouldn't have agreed in the first place, but I thought since we were both from different worlds and he's way older, I'd be able to keep my emotions in check.
He says he wants me to always remember how much I've hurt him. Of course, I will. A pain like this, even a tsunami won't be able to wash it off.
It's 8 p.m. I stand at the front porch of Grays' home, watching the front door like a hawk, but the rapid beating of my heart betrays my inner apprehension. Declan is in there. His car is parked in the driveway.
Will he be happy to see me? What did he tell his parents? Eli? God, will he still brush me off?
These questions and more add to my mind. I take the first step, then the next, then another until I'm three feet away from the door that's going to determine how the rest of my life will be; if I'll spend it in misery, regretting my decision to leave in the first place or not.
After I left Declan's house, I drove to my apartment and spent the entire day crying. My heart bled and still continues to bleed. The pain became excruciating. I couldn't breathe, I felt like life was being sucked out of me.
When Emma called and heard my voice, she didn't say a word for some time. We stayed on the line with me crying helplessly and her making no sound at all. Then she spoke soothingly to me. It was as if that was all I needed to pour out the words I'd kept under lock. I told her everything; from how I met Declan, to the moment I left his home.
Emma listened.Then, she said I shouldn't hide from a love that could be pure; one that could be healing.
"Take a slow and deep breath, wipe those tears off your face. You can take a long shower, if you want, but don’t forget to throw on something that will make his head spin. Go to that dinner and claim your man, Felicity."
"What if he doesn't want me anymore?"
"Then make him."
"Where did you learn all of this from?"
She scoffed, then muttered something under her breath about boys and birds. And then, she said, "That's not the question you should be asking right now. Have you thought about who is going to eat all the food we made and what we're going to tell Father to get him to leave the seat by the window?"
I said nothing. A part of me knew she'll help me figure that situation out, just like she did this one. Hopefully, when all of this is settled, I'll take Declan and Eli with me to visit my family.
With my shoulders squared and my lips curved in a charming smile, I walk into the house. The doorman nods as I walk past him. I head straight to the formal dining room close to the kitchen and stand at the door for a second before entering the room in my red stilettos.
Declan's father is the first to notice me. His eyes widen and then he stands up and walks around the table to me. Others turn, puzzled until their eyes land on me.
"Declan said you were running late. My wife and I have been looking forward to seeing you," he murmurs as he grabs my hand and leads me to the table, pulling out the chair beside Declan.
I'm smiling at the much older version of Declan, but my eyes are glued to him. He's smiling, but tense. I can tell he is from the set of his shoulders.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's fine. I was just about to tell them what we discussed yesterday," his mom says.
My face flushes.
Isn't it crazy that I was discussing colors and flowers for our wedding a day before I left him?
Well, if he didn't think I'm crazy, he will now.
